Chelsea 4 Wigan 1: Latics winning fans but no points

YESTERDAY’S entertaining, occasionally wobbly, but ultimately straightforward
victory over a game but limited Wigan Athletic has given Chelsea manager
Rafael Benitez breathing space. “Today we won a good match against a good
team and I’m confident of a top-four finish,” he said at the post-match
press conference.

Against a team missing John Terry, Wigan never dominated, but again won
friends while losing points. “A performance where we showed what we can do,”
said Roberto Martinez, their manager.

Chelsea lurch from avoidable crisis to avoidable crisis, but for all that the
still-extant chants in praise of Roberto Di Matteo — against an otherwise
near-silent backdrop — illustrate how anguished this club is, a heart of
quality beats within the madness.